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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

ECAC December Power Rankings

As the winter break begins for the ECAC, it is time for
WHRB’s December Power Rankings. Seven teams are ranked in USCHO.com’s Top 20
nationwide, while three points separate 2nd and 9th place
in the conference standings. We’ll have a midseason review of the Crimson
between their December 28th showdown against Northeastern and the
restart of conference action on January 4th.

1. Quinnipiac 8-0-0,
16 Pts (12-3-2) November:
5th

After an unimpressive month of non-conference play, No. 9
Quinnipiac has run away with the ECAC lead, earning 100% of the points from
eight games. The Bobcats have impressive wins over both Cornell and Union, and
are allowing 1.12 goals per game against conference opponents while scoring
almost four goals per game.

2. Union 3-2-3,
9 Pts (8-3-4) November:
2nd

The Dutchmen, ranked at No. 13 in the nation, weathered
injuries to standouts Troy Grosenick and Mat Bodie well, but are winless in
their last four games as the defense has not been as airtight as usual. They
have too much talent not to turn it around, however, and are still third in the
conference despite the recent slide.

3. Dartmouth 4-1-1,
9 Pts (7-2-2) November:
1st

Once the last undefeated team in the nation, No. 10
Dartmouth gained one point from Cornell and Colgate before a pair of easy
non-conference wins. It is highly doubtful that their penalty kill percentage,
first in the nation at 96%, is sustainable.

4. Cornell 3-3-2,
8 Pts (6-3-2) November:
3rd

The No. 11 Big Red earned two points from five games in the
first three weeks of November. Memories of that stretch are gone, as Cornell
has responded with big wins over Michigan, Clarkson, and St. Lawrence. Andy
Iles has saved 87 of 91 shots over the last four.

5. Colgate 3-4-1,
7 Pts (9-7-2) November:
11th

The middle of the ECAC standings are a mess, and wins over
Harvard, Dartmouth, and Clarkson earn the No. 20 earn the Raiders the fifth
spot in our rankings as they’ve won 11 points from the last seven games. The
freshman Spink twins have combined for 28 points.

6. Yale 3-3-1,
7 Pts (7-3-2) November:
4th

What to make of the No. 15 Bulldogs? They tied Union, lost
to Clarkson by a goal, were spanked by contender Dartmouth and bottom-feeder
RPI. A number of quality non-conference wins suggest that this team is better
than their seven conference points.

7. Clarkson 3-3-1,
7 Pts (4-8-5) November:
8th

Outside of a 1-0 win over Yale, Clarkson has no impressive
wins. Tied for fifth in the standings currently, this team doesn’t feel like a
contender for an ECAC bye, and yet the Golden Knights beat Princeton 7-2 and
have played much better than anyone trailing them in the standings. Clarkson
has yet to play Dartmouth or Union.

8. Princeton 2-3-3,
7 Pts (3-6-3) November:
9th

Two losses to Quinnipiac by a combined tally of 6-1 have
dulled an otherwise impressive start. Upcoming matchups against Dartmouth and
Harvard will show how good the Tigers really are. It isn’t unreasonable to see
them claw their way to a finish in the top half of the conference.

9. Harvard 3-3,
6 Pts (4-4-1) November:
6th

Since winning against the Big Red in Ithaca, the Crimson has
been mediocre at best, though a strange three-week rest may be partially to
blame. With the loss of Patrick McNally and Max Everson, however, Harvard
is suddenly short on defensive depth. Currently tied with Colgate for No. 20 in
the national rankings, the Crimson will have to fight hard to stay in the
picture for a bye.

10. St. Lawrence 1-4-2,
4 Pts (7-8-2) November:
7th

A promising season has taken a turn for the worse for the
Saints. Losers of five of their last six, St. Lawrence is giving up too many
goals 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill to compete with the cream of the
conference. Outside of the dynamic due of Kyle Flanagan and Greg Carey, no one
is scoring either.

11. Brown 0-3-4,
4 Pts (3-5-4) November:
10th

The Bears are the only winless team in the conference, but
they get the nod over the Engineers thanks to gutsy performances against
Harvard, Yale, and Union. Only one skater, Matt Lorito, has recorded
double-digit points, but Brown is sixth in the conference in goals allowed.

12. RPI 1-5-2,
4 Pts (4-6-4) November 12th

Even after a 6-1 shocking of Yale, the Engineers are last in
the conference in goals scored and 10th in goals allowed. A long
season will only grow longer, as the Engineers face seven nationally ranked
teams from now through February 2nd.